Adjustable caster



irse starts PATENT l@gaa@3 1 DANIEL L. STERER, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

ADJUSTABLE CASTER. v

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largely constructed of glass, and are of suchv a nature and so cumbersome as to render them uiisuited forlifting or moving `as they are subject todanger of breaking or destruction. By the utilization of my invention, a show case or other articlevof furniture may be elevated sufficiently to clear the floor and be supported vin such manner as to be readily moved without danger of breaking the glass structure, and without likelihood of marring the Hoor over which the show case is transported. f

F or attaining these results I liave devisec specially constructed corner plates or supports to rest upon the floor and support the show case in normal position, and combined therewith adjustable casters and means for elevating the show case preparatory to moving it to transfer, the weight of the show case to the casters, in order that the case may be moved asv desired, and to this end the invention consists in certain -novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fullyv described and claimed. y

In the accompanying drawings l have illustrated one lcomplete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, wherein a pair of elevating devices are jointly used, and the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have vthus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. n

Figure 1 is a horizontal, sectional view through the walls at the end of a show case or other article of furniture, showing a'pair of the devicesr of my invention in top plan that may be jointly operated to elevate one end of the show case.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the complementary devices, on line 2-2 of Figure l.

To show the relation of parts I have illustrated a portion of a show case at one end Specication of Letters lPatient. .Patent-Qd' Rigby 30, Application filed March 19, 1921. Serial No.453,827.

thereof andfdesignate'd tlieend wallv 1 and the two side walls 2, 2, which walls may'fbe 1 of wood or other suitable material and securely oined together. I

The combined elevating devices and casters are used, preferably in pairs at each end of the show case, and the complementary devices of the pair are i'ndicated'as a whole by the numerals 3 and l in Figure 1, and inasmuch asthe construction of these devices is similar, the description of one ywill suffice for both. L

The 4foot or corner plate 5 is made ofsuitable lmetal and lpreferably triangular inv form, to rest solidly upon the floor or other supporting surface for the'show case, and 4is provided with flangesor edge ribs 6 and 7' disposed at right angles, or at other angles, to engage the outer-edge ofthe 'end wall and side wall of the show case, ,as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2; f

For securing these floor plates to the showv case I utilize a Vpair of angula'rly disposed,

integral earsl S that rise from the plate and are perforated' 'to receive bolts 9 that arel passed through the ears and wall'of the show case,-and are securedby nuts 10. v'The ears are located infsuch position as to engage the inner face of the wall and the bolts; are

passed throughthe wall from the outer side thereof in order that thenuts may be hidden from sight, and presentr a neat and finished outside appearance at the corners of 'the show case.v` .i l fv` Each floor plate is fashioned with ah'ous in 'position to be located withink one corner of the show case, and the vhousing encloses the casterv as shown 'in' Figure-'2. The caster employed is ofthewheel type, having its wheel 12 swiveled` by the vswivel? head 13 on the pintley 11 fand-'the lieadvis securedr against displacement by the nut 15 asiisual. The pintle or journal for they siviveled caster is formed as a reduced extension 'of the screw bar or bolt 16, which is threaded into aii exteriorly and interiorly threaded bushing 17, which bushing performs the function of a traveling nut when the show case is being elevated or lowered.

`ing 1l' cast integral-therewith and disposed At its lower end ,i i the bushing has a circular base flange 18 to bushing, through which the bolt 16 is passed,

' and attached as by screws to the housing as shafts 23 and 24, which are journaled in their respective bearings 25 on the housings as best seen in Figure 1. Each shaft is provided with a worm or screw 26, and both of the shafts may have a squared end as 26 adapted to receive a key socket or other tool introduced through an opening 2 in the wall of the show case. The two shaft sections are joined by'a tubular section 27 which receives the adjoining ends of the shafts 23 and 24C and the joint is eXtensible by action of the slots 28 in the tubular section and the pins-29 on the sections 23 and 24. Thus it will beapparent that the seotional worm shaft may be extended or contracted as desired to accommodate it to various widths or depths of show casesand the elevating mechanism of the pair of devices be operated synchronously from the squared end 26.

As the extensible shaft is revolved, the action of the worm screws and worm wheels f causes the bushings 17 to revolve in their bearings, and the initial movement results in lowering the non-rotatable bolt 1G and the caster supported thereon, until the latter rests upon the floor. The retaining plate 21 may have a lug thereon to engage in the vertically disposed `groove 21 in the bolt 16 to prevent turning of the bolt, and as the caster is lowered the weight of the yshow case is transferred to the caster and withdrawn from the corner plates. Upon continued movement fof the extensible shaft, the bushing now becomes ya traveling nut, carrying with it the housing, plate and supported show case, and the show case is thus bodily elevated. After having been sufficiently lifted and with the load on the rollers o r wheelsof the casters, the show case may be shifted or moved, rolling on the wheels inusual manner to the desired position. When the proper destination has been reached,A the movement of the extensible shaft is reversed, the load lowered, andthe weight of the case again transferred'to the plates at the corners thereof.

Changes and alterations-may be made in the devices, within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, as for instance, the securing bolts 9 and nuts 10 may be dispensed with rand the ribs and 7 be depended on, together with the ears 8 to hold the plates in place. Both ends of the extensible shaft are squared in order that the pair of devices'may be adapted for either right, or left hand use, or the devices may be used singly if desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination with a base plate having angular retaining means and an integral housing, of a rotatable bushing inthe housing and a non-rotatable screw shaft threaded in said bushing, a caster within the housing journaled on said shaft, and means for revolving the bushing to perform the functions of a traveling nut.

2. The combination with a base plate having angular retaining flanges andan integral housing, of a rotatable bushingin the housing, an annular flange on kthe lower end of the bushing and an antifriction bearing between said flange and housing, a screw shaft threaded in said bushing, a retaining plate below the annular flange and having means engaging said shaft to hold it against rotation, a caster on the shaft within the housing, and means for revolving the bushing. i

3. The combination with a pair of elevating devices each comprising a caster and its threaded non-rotatable shaft, a rotatable bushing vin each device co-acting with the threaded shaft, a worm wheell on each bushing, an eXtensible shaft, having bearings in said devices, and worm screws on said extensible shaft engaging said wheels, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

` DANIEL L. STERNER. 

